From David Bowie's swan song to Beyonce's call to arms, Anohni's war lament to Frank Ocean's return, 2016 was a year of big artists making big statements. These are our picks for the best songs of the year.

Inspired by the idiosyncratic brilliance of ’90s artists like Missy Elliott and TLC, 20-year-old Oakland rapper Kamaiyah is looking to revive that era’s sense of originality while putting her own skills as an MC to the fore: “I want young women to know that they don't have to be a sex symbol to get love.”

From Drake's dominance to Adele's return, Tame Impala's blissful psych to Kendrick Lamar's politically charged hip-hop, 2015 marked another diverse and strong year for music. These are our picks for the best songs of the year.